Rozalla was born in Africa,
a successful career in Zimbabwe led her to the UK
which resulted in worldwide top hits with songs like;
"Everybody's Free" and "Are You Ready To Fly".
That led to her opening up for Michael Jackson
on the European leg of his Dangerous Tour,
and it also crowned her as... The Queen of Rave
"Like anything in life... if you're determined and you want to do it,
nobody can put you off, just follow your heart and believe in yourself!"
Rozalla was born on March 18, 1964 in Ndola, Northern Rhodesia, which is now known as Zambia.
Since around 1990 she's living in UK, currently in Surrey.
I, Discoguy, had to ask her about her name; Is Rozalla your birth name? "Yes, it is Rozalla!" It's a special name. As coming from Northern Rhodesia, does the name mean anything special? "Well, actually I was born in Zambia, which actually... yeah, you're right - it was Northern Rhodesia at the time. I was born the same year when Zambia became Zambia, in 1964. But I don't think my name has any special meaning. As I was growing up, I was told the name Rozalla is a Spanish name and then of course I found out that there's a bird in Australia called the Rosella bird. Hahaha! So, I don't know."
According to Ask-Oracle.com, the name is most popular in Zimbabwe and is mentioned to evoke a sense of elegance and sophistication.
The same site also presents the following personality traits for the name, which includes words like dance, rhythm, elegance, warmth and captivates attention - which are all traits that definitely is our star personified; Rozalla: A Name that Dances Through Life Imagine a name that glides off the tongue like a gentle breeze through a sunlit meadow. That's Rozalla! It has this enchanting blend of elegance and curiosity - a unique name that not only stands out with its gentle rhythm but also invites you to discover the beautiful persona hidden beneath. Like a unique perfume, it captivates attention, mingling grace and warmth. Meet Rozalla, a name that embraces beauty and a dash of adventure!
So, how was your life growing up in Zambia? "Oh, I loved it. I was raised by my grandparents, because my mom was a young mum when she had me. So, I'm a farm girl. I was raised on a farm with my grandparents and I just absolutely loved it. I have great memories of Zambia, and the majority of my relatives still live in Zambia.
Then, when I was a teenager, my father, who was Zimbabwean, decided he wanted to move back to Zimbabwe and we did that. So I spent my formative years in Zimbabwe, which I also loved very very much.
So my feet are in both these countries. Now I live in the UK and I've been living here for over 35 years and now I'm British. And I love it here too, so you know, life is what you make of it." Yes, definitely, and then you have three feet in different countries. "Three feet, exactly, Yes exactly! Hahaha!" It's wonderful to hear that you had such a nice upbringing. I know you started performing at a very young age. When you were just 13 you were singing on a children's TV show. But what about your family and siblings - were they also into music? "Oh no, not at all. I was just one of those that just got into music. My sister actually, and I'd like to think I've inspired her... Laura, she's a singer and she plays guitar. She does quite a few shows around the country in the UK. And when I look at her Claes [Discoguy]... She started sort of like teaching herself how to play guitar and I thought to myself 'Oh yeah, just a hobby - that's great!'. But now she's going out and performing at clubs, pubs and restaurants and she's making a living from it. And I'm just in shock, but I'm so proud of her. I'm so proud of her I can't believe it!
I think... like anything in life... if you're determined and you want to do it nobody can put you off, just follow your heart and believe in yourself!" That's really great. I'm so happy to hear that she has been able to make a living out of music as well. That's great. So, do you have many siblings? "Yes. I have 5 brothers. Sadly three aren't with us anymore, but I had five brothers and two younger sisters." Wow! "So, a big family. Big family, yeah!"
So, how come you started with music? Was that something you always felt you wanted to do, or was it more like you had this great voice and people noticed it, or how did it come? "I would say both. All my life I'd wanted to be a singer, and one of my aunts, she's not with us anymore, she used to sing herself. She asked me to sing and would say; 'You know Rozalla, you've got a great voice. You should become a singer!'
So, when she would have a party at her home, or some of my relatives would have a barbeque at their home, they would always say; 'Rozalla is going to sing now!' and I'm going; 'Oh, OK!' So, I started singing then. I had all these adults who were saying; 'Well she can sing, she got a good voice!' So that sort of put something in me to say; 'People believe I can sing!' and then of course - I do love singing!
Then one thing led to the other when I got a job working for two weeks at the Hotel Intercontinental. I was 14 years old and I performed for two weeks every night. My dad would take me there and that was one of the early highlights of my career. But the Hotel intercontinental didn't advertise me because I was underage! Hahaha! But I just thought they believed in me, and they got me to sing there for two weeks with the band and I just thought it was amazing!" Yes, I understand that it must have been fantastic at such a young age going on stage and perform for for hotel guests and everything for two whole weeks. "Exactly, and then the next day I had school." Quite a difference I guess. "Exactly - Yes!"
As you mentioned earlier, your father was from Zimbabwe and you moved there as a teenager. You were also studying there, what did you study? "We move to Zimbabwe in 1980, so i carried on with highschool. My parents always knew that i wanted to be a singer and i wanted to go to music school, but my mum and dad were worried that, you know, it's a very tough industry. So my mother said; 'Take up a course that you know you can work with, just in case it doesn't work out for you.'
So I took up a secretarial course to learn to type other people's work, or be receptionist. I did all that. But also during that, I was in a band and with that band we were traveling around Zimbabwe performing, singing for people. And when I look back at it... it was just like slowly but surely climbing up a ladder and things were just unfolding and taking space into what was to become of my career!"
That's wonderful and what a great career that came... But let's not move ahead too far. So you started working at the Intercontinental and that led to other things - but have you ever done anything else in your life or has music always be in your life since you actually grew up? "Music has been the priority I would say, but in between that, I did work as a secretary and I worked as a receptionist.
I remember in Zimbabwe, this was some years after we moved to Zimbabwe and I was much older then, in my early 20s... I was working as a receptionist and I got a job performing at nights at a show in the Holiday Inn. I would be performing six nights a week and then in the in the daytime I'd be working as a secretary. 'Cause, you know, I had to make money because the secretary wasn't paid so much money. But that was my job.
During that time I remember there was a talent contest for musicians in Zimbabwe. I joined it, because even though I was in this band and we were traveling around performing at various places, I thought I wanted to make it as a singer in my own right, in my own name. I joined the contest and I won! The prize was a recording contract with the local recording company in Harare - Gamma Records - and that's when I first started going out and recording my own material under the name Rozalla. It was amazing, and the first song I released was called 'Party Nights' " "Party Nights" wasn't on your first - Spirit Of Africa - album, right? "No, nobody's ever heard it, but that was my first ever single and in fact, I have a few fans asking me where they can get it and I tell them; 'Listen, I don't even know how I can get it myself!' Hahaha! So this is where we are, but that was my first ever single I recorded in my life." OK, so what kind of music was it? "it was a dance song. It was written for me by my good friends Abi Rusike and Kelly Rusike of the Rusike Brothers in Zimbabwe. They were really famous and they were the songwriters who wrote most of my songs for the singles that were released in Zimbabwe, before I left to come to the UK." Right, I know that your also performed with Rusike Brothers as well. "Yes, I did."
As mentioned above, Rozalla's first single - "Party Nights" - was released in 1985 on Gramma Records. It became a top hit in Zimbabwe and was followed by another hit song called "Hi Life" later the same year.
In the late 80's Unit Dance Africa released the single "Heartbreaker", the song was featured in Rozalla's first album called Spirit Of Africa which was released by the South African Tusk Music label in 1989. This 10-tracks LP takes you on a journey, not only literally via the title track or the song "African In Paris", but also musically - from dance music all the way to ballads.
In 1990 Unit Dance Africa released of the 12" single "Sunny", a real house smacker typical of its time.
I read that you actually scored no less than Five number one hits in Zimbabwe. "Yes, it did so well and then, you know, I was releasing all these songs in Zimbabwe and the fans were calling into the radio stations to promote my songs and choose my songs to be played.
Then I started getting the itch again, so I thought; 'I think I've got as far I can in Zimbabwe as a singer releasing own material, now I want to be an international artist!' Hahaha!
I thought; 'I really want to make a living from this. I really want to do something and be an international superstar!'
That's all I had in my head and it just so happened when there was a producer on holiday who owned a record studio in the UK. He was friends with a Zimbabwean DJ friend of mine [John Matinde] and he was like; 'I saw this girl, her video on TV, and I really think she's good - can you introduce us?'
I met him, his name was Chris Sargent and when we met he explained; 'Look, I got a studio in the UK, let's go and record and send the tracks that we record to major labels to try and get a record deal.'
Of course, at that time I had absolutely no money to even buy a ticket to come to the UK, but I was so grateful that my my record label Gramma Records in Harare believed in me and they paid for my first three air tickets to come to the UK. And honestly Claes, when I look back... if someone that believes in manifesting or believing it will happen - it happens! I never was that person, but when I look back, I just think; 'Wow, this is what I was hoping for! I would say, in my dreams I've reached as far as I want to. I'm still dreaming, believe me, don't you never stop dreaming!'
But to cut a long story short - I came to the UK and began to record material and Chris started sending it around to record labels and one of them fell on the laps of Tim and Nigel, who were known as the Band of Gypsies and and they wanted to meet me.
I met them and, you know, I would say for the rest of my life they have been the angels in my life. They immediately knew what I wanted when we sat down and we chatted. They loved my voice and they were like; 'What type of music do you want to do?' I'm like; 'I wanna do dance music, but with lyrics that are positive and uplifting!' Then I got working with them and we started looking for a record deal and then Pulse 8 Records loved what they heard and then... the rest is history!" Yes, and what a history then! "Yeah, absolutely!"
You met with Tim Cox and Nigel Swanston and the first single you released was "Born To Love Ya". "Yes, that's right." The song became a club hit. Do you remember the feeling when you actually saw it climbing in the club charts back then? "Honestly I couldn't believe it! I was so shocked. I thought; 'What is happening here?' But it was such a wonderful feeling, I just couldn't believe it.
Something in me said; 'Rozalla remember your dreams and your hopes. This is what you wanted, so just embrace it and just go with the flow and see where this road will take you!'
And that's what I've continued to do ever since..." Your second single on Pulse 8 was "Fate In The Power Of Love" and then the third one was the song that would become your biggest hit and make your world famous... that's "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)". "Yes." So tell me all around it and what you feel it has meant for your career... "Gosh, you know, somebody said to me the other day, 'Everybody's Free To Feel Good' it's your passport, it's an iconic track." Yes, it definitely is. "And it has been for so many years. Honestly, I am a person that practices gratitude and thankfulness, and I'm so grateful.
You know, there was a time in the 90s when the boy bands and the girl bands were having their moment, and then I was lucky if I got to do one or two club dates in the period of two months. It was scary. Because earlier I was doing between 4 to 5 gigs per week, and keeping in mind that's how I was earning my living, and suddenly it was all taken away. I was thinking; 'Oh gosh, maybe this is the end of my career.'
But when I look back I think that period still gave me something. That's when I met my husband and it gave us an opportunity to spend time with each other. So, everything happens for a reason and so it gave me an opportunity for me and my husband to get to know each other as I wasn't traveling as much. Then things started picking up again. We started getting these Back to the 90s and I love the 90s concerts, stuff like that. Then it sort of created work for me and other artists who had hits in the 90s. And now, this 'love for the 90s' thing that's going on right now, it just exploded - absolutely exploded! And I'm thinking; 'Oh my goodness.'
You know, 'Everybody's Free To Feel Good' is going to be 35 years old this year and I think I am working more than ever in the last few years after COVID hit. It's just been crazy, but wonderful crazy!" That's really great and I'm happy to hear that. Just hearing the intro of "Everybody's Free" still makes people go nuts when it's played! Because everyone knows it and knows what's to come. So you really can tell that people still love this song, because it's a fantastic song! "And I'm so grateful and I think the message in the song is for everybody all over the world... [starts singing] 'Brothers and sisters together we'll make it through. Everybody's free to feel good'. I mean what more can you say? You know, every human being deserves to feel free, to feel good and it's a basic human right." Definitely! "Which each human being deserves and must have, no matter what!"
As mentioned, Rozalla's first UK single was "Born To Love Ya" in 1990, followed by "Faith (In The Power Of Love)" in 1991.
Still in 1991 "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" saw the light of day, this was the song that would change her life forever and which would also crown her as the Queen of Rave.
This track was a Top 10 hit in over 30 countries and it even reached # 1 in the desired US Club Charts.
Let's stick with "Everybody's Free" for a little while... The song has been remixed and it has been reissued a number of times. What do you think about remixing in general, and remixing of "Everybody's Free" in particular? "I think it's fantastic because I think that has kept the profile of the song raised. The fact that it's been remixed, it's been re-vocaled, I mean, I don't know if you know but Kylie Minogue recorded 'Everybody's Free To Feel Good' for a Christmas album a few years ago. I was so proud!
There's also quite a few contestants who perform it on X Factor or these musical programmes.
We have a big chemist here called Boots and they used it for the adverts, so things like that kept the profile of the song high up there.
Because I notice what happens is... For instance there was an advert where these British milk farmers used 'Everybody's Free' and they got permission from myself, Tim and Nigel, and the publishers, to sing the song very very badly..." [singing it with bad dark voice; "Everybody's free to feel good"] "...and at the end they played my real voice. I'm like; 'Absolutely, do it.' It was so much fun, it made me laugh and of course, the radio stations caught onto it and they're like; 'Oh, this the British farmers are using this Rozella song Everybody's Free, but let's play the original now!'
So I found that's what happens you know, they always go back and they play the original and therefore I believe that that has kept the profile of this song raised." Yes, I think so too, but I didn't know about the farmers version. "Yeah, it's so funny honestly. Check it out!" I most definitely will... [Watch it below...]
"Everybody's Free" was also used in a Zimbabwean Coca Cola commercial in 1992.
"Everybody's Free" has been remixed numerous times. Pulse-8 released new remixes in 1996, already 5 years after its original release. Since then there have been new remixes coming with an average of a few years apart. And those are only the versions listing Rozalla as the sole act.
But there are even more versions where Rozalla's voice have been officially used in others tracks... The list keeps growing; Gitta Vs. Rozalla - "Everybody's Turning Back" [2001] Richard [Humpty] Vission Feat. Rozalla - "Everybody's Free" [2000] DJ Jurgen vs. Rozalla - "Everybody's Free 2000" [2000] (another Pulse-8 recording) Aquagen Feat. Rozalla - "Everybody's Free" [2002] DNF Vs. Rozalla - "Everybody's Free 2005" [2025] Kortezman Feat. Rozalla - "Everybody's Free '06 Version'" [2006] Global Deejays Feat. Rozalla - "Everybody's Free" [2007]. This version became an Australian hit in 2009 after being used as the theme song for the TV show So You Think You Can Dance Florian Kempers Feat. Rozalla - "Everybody's Free 2016" [2016] Rozalla X Dave Ralph – "Everybody's Free" [2022]
Besides all these remixes of "Everybody's Free" other Rozalla tracks have also been remixed, but not to the same extent.
"Are You Ready To Fly" was remixed in 2000, 2006 and 2011.
One example is Northernbeat Feat Rozalla version which was released on Pumpin' UK Records in 2007.
These were just a few, but her songs are still in demand for remixing and sampling for official releases, not to mention bootlegs.
Rozalla's fourth UK single was "Are You Ready To Fly", and just like its predecessor it topped the US Club Chart in 1992 and was another top hit for Rozalla in many countries.
To set the record straight, the fourth Pulse-8 release was in fact a remix of "Faith", but the fourth song released was "Are You Ready To Fly".
The fifth and last single released off the Everybody's Free album was "Love Breakdown" in 1992. This was a mid-tempo track, opposed to her earlier up-beat songs, but didn't do as well chart wise as her previous tracks.
The album reached silver status in the UK and included some additional seven tracks, one of them was "Don't Play With Me", which would later become a single in 1993. Another was "Believe In Yourself", a dance track not to be mixed up with her 2026 release with the exact same title.
After the album had been released there was yet another single released in 1992, a song called "In 4 Choons Later" which was never included in any album.
In May 1992, Rozalla performed at the World Music Awards in Monaco, where she also received an award for Best-Selling African Artist.
In 1992 you released your fourth single - "Are You Ready To Fly", which was also a big hit and it's a big favorite of mine as well. "Thank you!" That song, along with the prior singles of course, led to you touring with Michael Jackson on his Dangerous Tour. How was that? "That will remain one of the biggest highlights of my career. To have had the opportunity to support Michael Jackson. Especially as he personally chose me." Wow, I understand that! "Because at the time, I had just signed to Epic / Sony and he was also a Sony artist and he asked them who's got the biggest dance hits across Europe and at the time I had 'Are You Ready To Fly', 'Faith In The Power Of Love' and 'Everybody's Free To Feel Good' and they sent him... myself and other artists songs... to Michael and told him; 'Well, have a listen. This is who's happening across Europe!' and he chose me personally. So I will always say thank you and I did 43 days with him across Europe.
it was a very very busy tour, but it was unbelievable - it was just unbelievable!
It was so many hundreds of people involved in this tour. I heard there were like three stages. One was moving to one city, the other was moving to another city and then there was one set up where we were performing at. And all the people involved in this tour, it was just unreal!
You had a moving kitchen, you had makeup artists, you had tailors, it was like a small little village! Hahaha!
It was just truly fantastic and Michael Jackson will, for me, remain to be one of the best... It was like watching magic unfold before your very eyes. Just unbelievable - unbelievable!" Did you get to meet him? "Yes, we got to meet. I thanked him for choosing me personally. We took some pictures and he was really nice. He was really nice and gracious to me."
The European leg of the Dangerous Tour started at the Olympia stadium in Munich on June 27, 1992, and ended in Bucharest, Romania on October 1, 1992.
Totally some 37 shows were performed during 1992, while 4 shows were cancelled due to Michael's health issues.
Opening acts for that leg of the tour were Kris Kross and Rozalla.
Later a few new European dates were added in September of 1993, but those featured Culture Beat as the opening act. I actually saw you in that Dangerous tour, on July 17, 1992 - the first night of two - in Stockholm, Sweden! "Did you?" Yeah! "Oh, wow! Yes! Oh my goodness!" So me and my wife were in that concert in Stockholm and we were waiting our first baby girl, and it seemed like she liked the music as well! You really did a great performance, so it was really nice to see you there! "Oh that's fantastic, that's wonderful. I like to hear stories like that - to hear the audience's perspective of what they saw and how they saw it. It's always interesting."
I read somewhere that your debute performance in the UK was actually at the Wembley Arena, is that correct? Because based on what we've discussed here before, it seems like you did loads of club gigs and stuff... "Oh, I can't really say honestly Claes, I can't remember where my first debut performance was. But I was doing so many club dates at the time. I was doing massive massive club dates and also, you know, massive raves at the time.
In the early 90s and ahead, there were all these raves that were put up in the middle of fields and then I go and do my performance. Then the next morning I'd wake up and hear the police went and closed it down. Hahaha!
So, I mean, I don't recall all the places I did, but it was wonderful."
All four hits from your 1992 Everybody's Free album were later remixed in 1993 for the Everybody's Free-Style 'Remixed To Perfection' album. Who came up with that the idea? Was it Tim and Nigel, or? "Yes, it was the three of us. We decided to redo it. Which is something similar to what we did with one of my recent albums - Turn On The Light. We did some dance music tracks from the songs released on that album. So it's just like something an artist will do, like I guess mainly for the DJ's, just to keep it fresh - to keep it out there and to increase the profile of the songs."
In the Everybody's Free-Style 1993 'Remixed To Perfection' album, several of the original album's tracks had received a remix treatment by some of the hottest remixers of the time, people like; Phil Kelsey, Kevin Saunderson and StoneBridge amongst others.
Prior to the remix album, the single "Don't Play With Me" was released with several remixes of the track. There was also a sampler for the remix album released which, besides "Don't Play With Me", also included remixes of "Faith" and "Love Breakdown".
Then in 1994 you released the cover and the old O'Jays hit "I Love Music" which also became the theme song of the Carlito's Way movie. That must really have widen your audience I guess? "Oh, that was at a period in my time then when I wanted to do other styles of music, other than dance music. I wanted to do slow songs, ballads, I wanted to do mid-tempo tracks.
Sony also wanted me to widen my musical career and they were doing the music to this movie Carlito's Way, and they were like; 'Let's get Rozalla to do I Love Music.'
So I got the opportunity to record that song with Jellybean Benitez. To me he was famous because he was Madonna's boyfriend and Madonna was so so massive so it was such an honor to work with him and just have the opportunity to record in New York as well.
From Carlito's Way I got the opportunity to perform at the premiere of Carlito's Way and meet Al Pacino, which was just amazing."
The "I Love Music" single would score Rozalla her third Number 1 hit in the US Club Charts.
It was followed by the European only single release "This Time I Found Love", and three other single releases; "You Never Love The Same Way Twice", produced by UK's Joey Negro [Dave Lee] and Andrew "Doc" Livingstone. "Baby", produced by DJ legend Frankie Knuckles. "Losing My Religion", a cover of the R.E.M classic.
All these songs were included in the 1995 album - Look No Further, as released on Epic Records.
Still in 1994 you released this song "You Never Love The Same Way Twice" which became a huge club hit club in the US and the UK charts. Can you tell me a little bit about that song? "As said, Sony wanted to take me in a different direction because I was saying I wanna do songs that are more sort of away from the dance club scene. So when I heard 'Never Love The Same Way Twice' I thought; 'Yes! This is a song-song you know, that's full of words.'
I was getting sent so many different demos of different songs and 'Never Love The Same Way Twice' just spoke to me and I just thought; 'Yeah I could do that song.'
You know, so many different singer-songwriters were sending me songs and I was saying yes to that - no to that. Usually when I hear a demo I imagine myself singing it, feeling the song and enjoying it. When I feel that - then I know I can do that and try my best to deliver. And 'Never Love The Same Way Twice' was that song!"
Coming Home was the name of Rozalla's fifth album. For this album she rejoined forces with Tim and Nigel of the Band of Gypsies, and the album was released on Rozalla's RM Records in 1998. "Coming Home" was the first single off the album and it was followed by the singles; "Don't Stop The Lovin'" and "Don't Go Lose It Baby", all of course included in the album.
In 2004 we got a one-off single called "Alright" produced by UK DJ Mark Knight for Soundsheavenly Recordings.
Another one-off release was the promo 12" single of the song "Love Fool" recorded for Distant Soundz Recordings in 2006, a track that later got new life in 2009 credited as Distant Soundz feat. Rozalla. This song would later be picked up and re-released again on Energise Records in 2023.
You have also toured with Billy Ocean! "Yeah. Billy the Great Oh my gosh, that was something... Billy and I was managed the by the same manager, John Anderson, who will remain a dear friend to me for life.
I recorded a jazz sort of album called Brand New Version in 2009. It was again something that I always wanted to do, so again breaking away from the dance music, breaking away from the Look No Further album.
So, I did this jazz album and Billy was going out on tour and my manager said; 'Can Rozalla be a support ing act?' and he said; 'Absolutely!'
So, I supported Billy on his 53 day tour across England and what an experience that was! It was so different for me. Because I had a three piece band. I had a piano player, I had a drummer and I had a bass guitarist and myself performing. So it wasn't like my average scene. I had nothing to hide behind. It was just me at the front and I was so nervous because it was just me and the vocals. So that was a different experience." But it must have been really really good hearing both you and Billy in the same night. That must have been fantastic! "It was wonderful. Billy sometimes would come out into the audience and watch me. I would be like; 'Oh I'm so nervous, why is he here?' Hahahah! But it was wonderful."
After an approximately 10 years hiatus without releasing any solo material, Rozalla returned again in 2015 with two singles - "If You Say It Again" and "The Shadows Of The Moon" on Rozalla Music.
The song "Shaking Through The Night" was a another single only release from 2015, which was credited to Rozalla and Kazz.
Moving ahead to 2015, then you actually had another club hit in the US with the song "If You Say It Again". "Yes! So that was a shock." Exactly my thought, because it seems like it was mainly a US hit. "Yeah, honestly, I didn't expect that. At that point I wasn't doing any recordings. I was just going out and doing club dates here and there and I just thought; 'My recording career is over now and that's fine.'
Then somebody on Facebook got in touch with me saying; 'Look, I'm a songwriter and I've written some songs which I think would be good for you!' One of them was 'If You say It Again'.
I liked the song, so he arranged a studio for me in the UK. I went in and I recorded the song and then fast forward... One of the guys I used to to work with in New York, Frank Cerrillo got in touch with me and he's like; 'I heard the song - If You Say It Again - I think it's great. I'd love to release it in the States, can I do that? And I got many promoters and DJ friends who do remixes for free.' I'm like; 'Yeah, go for it!'
So Frank did that and we got back about six or seven different mixes of 'If You Say It Again' and they were all just absolutely brilliant.
Frank said he started sending it around to what they call the DJ pools in America and the DJ's were loving it and when we looked it went to #5 in the American Club Dance Charts. I was so shocked! Frank and I were both so shocked. We didn't expect that!
So that just sort of gave me a new lease of life in the world of recording and then what came out of that was that I got in touch with the record label. I'm starting now on Energised Records. Gary Simmons was like; 'We want to do a whole album with you!'
So what that song did, lead to me recording an album that we released in 2023 called Turn On The Light.
Therefore my recording career started again and I know I'm jumping the gun here, but I'm now working on another album so, yeah, it's just fantastic!" That's fantastic. It's great news and I'm really looking forward hear your new music.
Make sure to allow Pup-up's to listen to the below songs...
In December 2016, she was ranked as the 98th Most Successful Dance Artist of all time by legendary Billboard Magazine.
The same year Rozalla got signed to Energise Records, where she has remained ever since.
For the label she has recorded a number of singles; "Breaking My Heart" together with Allan Jay in 2016. "Turn On The Light" in 2019. This would later become the title track of her 2024 album. "Magnificent" and I Feel It Slipping Away", both in 2020. "I Want You Back" in 2021. "The Christmas Song" was released in 2022, and the single features a 'festive swing' Christmas version of "Everybody's Free".
2024 saw three releases; first "Lotta Love", a cover of the Neil Young penned Nicolette Larson classic, followed by a cover of the legendary Disco group Change's "Let's Go Together" and ending with "You & I" - released as Rozalla / Nicholson as it included Trance DJ Carl Nicholson.
Rozalla / Nicholson returned in 2025 with "Alive" on OneSeventy Records. The same year we also got the beautiful "Someone That I Used To Love", plus that Rozalla was featuring act to the PPG 3.0 song "Can You Hear Me?".
In January 2026 the single "Believe In Yourself" got released.
Most of the above Energise Records singles were included in the 2024 18-tracks album Turn On The Light, which among other songs included a cover of Odyssey's "Inside Out".
Just like with the Everybody's Free-Style album, this album was also re-released in 2025 as Turn On The Light 'Remixed And Extended', featuring new club versions of 13 of the original album's songs.
You have a also released a couple of really successful covers, like; "I Love Music", but also songs like "Losing My Religion", "Lotta Love" and "Let's Go Together", for example. So was it your idea to choose those songs or has it been a joint effort? "No, it was a mixture. My husband said; 'I think you would do a great version of 'Lotta Love' and 'Baby Come Back.'
Then Gary was listening to some songs so it was a mixture of different ideas coming to the table, my husband, Gary, myself you know.
We wanted people to listen to these covers and go; 'Wow, we didn't think Rozalla could do that cover.' Hahaha!" Those covers were really good. I really like your versions of them, that's why I wanted to ask... "Thank you! Thank you so much!" But are there any other songs by any other artist that you would have loved to sing or record yourself? "Oh there's so many, you know Claes! I'm sure that when we've finish speaking I'll be thinking of all the other songs I would have loved to have done. There are so many, but I appreciate these artists and what they've done, and they inspire me."
You mentioned "Turn On The Lights" album - that record s actually including around 10 years of singles releases. I think it's really a great album and in the song "Someone That I Used To Love" we can really hear the full range of your voice and it's fantastic. "Thank you so much. My husband think it's one of the best songs that I have recorded 'cause he said the same as you - that you really hear the full range of my vocals on that track. But that's exactly what I want. I wanna do songs that people wouldn't expect me to do. That because they're so used to hearing 'Everybody's Free' and seeing me as a dance artist, which is fine and I'm happy with that. But I feel I have different facets in my career and in my vocal range. Just different music and different styles of music to keep things alive and fresh." Yes, it feels really fresh. Then you actually remixed this album as well and we we have already seen a release from yourself this year [early 2026] - that's "Believe In Yourself". So you're definitely back to stay! "Oh, thank you! I keep trying.
The guys that I'm working with - PPG 3.0, that's Philla Marshall, Graham Ebbs and Phil Harding - I'm so honored that they want to record an album with me.
We've released I think two or three singles from the album that we're still working on and hopefully we'll have an album to release sometime this year." Wonderful! I can't wait for it!
Just like in the PPG 3.0 release mentioned above, Rozalla has been brought in to add her vocals to different songs over the years, for example the 1998 track "Friday Night" credited to Phat 'N' Phunky feat. Rozalla, or Plastic Boy feat. Rozalla's "Live Another Life" from 2003, the LA Project feat. Rozalla 2005 release "All Or Nothing" and Abel Ramos feat. Rozalla's "Where Is The Love" as released in 2010.
You mentioned before that you haven't got the first single you ever recorded in Zimbabwe, but have you got copies of all the other material you ever released? "Not all of it. Unfortunately I don't." Do you know, approximately, how many songs you actually have been adding your vocals to? If also including the non-credited ones. "Gosh, that is... I would have thought a few hundreds I'm sure over the years. Honestly, a few hundreds. It's crazy. How many albums have I released in my lifetime, I'm really not sure, because out of those albums I've also done lots of singles which were released on its own. It's not something I've really counted to be honest." No, I can understand that. But which is your personal favorite out of your own songs? " Oh, it changes all the time.
I would say at the moment, probably 'Never Love the Same Way Twice'. Yeah, I'll say 'Never Love The Same Way Twice' is currently my favorite.
Then, on the 'Turn On The Light' album there's a mix-up I think some DJ remixers called brothers something... I can't remember the name they went by, but they did a fantastic mix of 'Magnificent' and I love listening to that. That particular mix is fantastic. I can't remember who made it." No worries, I'll definitely find out.
The remix of the song "Magnificent" was created by a team called Brothers In House, yet unknown who are behind that name.
Since my pages are mainly disco oriented, did you like disco music during the era? "Oh, I LOVED disco music. That's also what shaped me, making me wanna do dance music.
I was this young teenager, 14-15 year old, that used to go to Discos in in the afternoons, obviously not evenings as my parents wouldn't allow me, and that's when I just got hooked by this and wanting to do dance music because of how it made me feel. You know, you just want to get up and dance and sing and just feel good." Yes, great. So do you have any favorite disco songs? "Oh my goodness. Donna Summer springs to mind. Her tracks from the the 70s-80s...
'I Feel Love'... [starts singing "Oh I Feel Love I Feel Love..."] "I mean, she was just such a talent. Her voice was almost sometimes like an opera singer. She has such a fantastic range, so Donna Summer springs to mind - definitely!" What kind of music do you personally prefer, if you can choose freely? "At the moment what I'm listening to is easy listening jazz. I listen a lot to relaxing jazz or just instrumentation jazz with no vocals. I love that. I find it comforting and relaxing, just either piano based or saxophone based or guitar based. As long as it's just relaxing and soulful music, as like if you would go to a nice bar and is this sort of jazz music playing background. That sort of music is what I'm appreciating currently."
You still perform, and both me and my wife, really enjoyed seeing you in Newcastle. "Thank you!" You really have a fantastic presence and energy on stage, so how many gigs do you do a year? "My husband was counted my diary, and currently I have about 50 gigs this year. So I'm busy more or less every weekend. The gigs they're everywhere. I did quite a few in Spain. I have some coming up in Brazil. I got a very interesting one in Egypt in May with other artists. So, you know, wherever in the world a request comes in - we're there!"
Now a tough one, possibly, What's your best memory from your years in the business? "My best memory. Ehhh... I guess it was arriving in the UK for the first time to start my career and just wondering if this is going to work out...
I remember when I arrived, it was at Heathrow airport, and I was so cold and I just thought; 'Oh gosh, I don't know if I'm going to survive in this country. It's very cold!' Hahaha!
My friend said; 'Don't worry, I've got a jacket for you.' And my friend gave me this warm jacket and I just thought; 'Rozalla, you here, just give it your best and see how it goes!'
And my father, who was still alive at that time, he said to me; 'Just give it your best, but just always remember - you have a home to come back to!'
That's my memory - I just thought he gave me the determination to tell me you've always got a home to come back to, but give it your best.
So, yeah, that's why that's why best memory." That's a lovely memory actually, and so nice to hear your father was so supporting. "He was very supportive - very supportive" We're actually running to the end of my questions, but is there is anything else you can think of that you want to tell me about which we haven't discussed? "I think you did your homework here Claes, you covered quite a lot in fact. You went right back into my beginnings and stuff which is fantastic. So, no I think you've covered most of it, thank you!" Wonderful. Thanks a lot, I appreciate you taking your time talking to me and it has been lovely talking to you! "You're most welcome Claes. Thank you, it was so nice to meet you. Take care!" Likewise! Take care. Bye! "Bye!"
Rozalla is a lovely and charming lady
with a remarkable stage presence, energy and joy in her performances.
Even though her worldwide smash-hit "Everybody's Free"
is now over 35 years old,
she's still as in demand as ever before.
She is, and will remain - The Queen of Rave.
She's still recording and releasing new music.
Her continued success is the result of her philosophy; "Life is what you make of it"
"Honestly I couldn't believe it! I was so shocked. I thought; 
Rozalla's fourth UK single was "Are You Ready To Fly", and just like its predecessor it topped the US Club Chart in 1992 and was another top hit for Rozalla in many countries.
It was followed by the European only single release "This Time I Found Love", and three other single releases;
So, I did this jazz album and Billy was going out on tour and my manager said; 
So that just sort of gave me a new lease of life in the world of recording and then what came out of that was that I got in touch with the record label. I'm starting now on Energised Records. Gary Simmons was like; 
I was this young teenager, 14-15 year old, that used to go to Discos in in the afternoons, obviously not evenings as my parents wouldn't allow me, and that's when I just got hooked by this and wanting to do dance music because of how it made me feel. You know, you just want to get up and dance and sing and just feel good."
